Scientists Discover Nanoplastics Induce Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Damage in Human Cells
A recent study has revealed that nanoplastics (NPs), specifically polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), induce oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, and epigenetic changes in human cells. Researchers exposed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to these nanoplastics at a concentration of 1 µg/mL, a level considered environmentally relevant based on human biomonitoring data. The study found that all three types of nanoplastics led to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and oxidative DNA damage. Furthermore, the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain Complex I was significantly decreased, particularly by PVC and PP. The research also observed alterations in gene expression related to mitochondrial dynamics, DNA repair, and epigenetic regulation, alongside an increase in inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8. These findings suggest that nanoplastics can disrupt multiple interconnected intracell... 
